PICK OF TODAY’S TV

FLOODLIGHTS, 9PM, BBC2

‘IT WAS the softer, weaker boys he targeted.’ This powerful, featurelength drama tells the heartbreaking story of Andy Woodward, the ex-professional footballer whose revelations about the sexual abuse he suffered as a youth player sent shock waves throughout the game. Jonas Armstrong — a long way from his breakthrough role as Robin Hood — is creepily believable as paedophile coach Barry Bennell, who preyed on young boys and their dreams of becoming professional footballers — only to betray that trust in the most horrific manner. As a leading coach

at famous clubs Crewe Alexandra, Manchester City, Leeds United and Stoke City, Bennell had hundreds of youngsters in his charge, who would have believed that he had it in his power to make or break their careers. The focus here, though, is on Woodward, and on the immense courage it took for him to finally blow the whistle in 2016 — his bravery encouraged more than 100 other victims to speak out, eventually leading to the trial and conviction of Bennell, and others like him. It’s a shocking and distressing story, and at its centre is an intense performance by the former Shameless star Gerard Kearns (pictured) as the adult Andy, while Morvern Christie and Steve Edge play his parents, who are left devastated having, enthusiastically at the time, let their son walk into a living nightmare.